Our sustained advocacy work has helped shape the latest iteration of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which now includes a new provision making it unlawful for tenants to keep pets without landlord consent. This recommended change by the Select Committee is in line with our vision for a fairer and more accountable rental sector. But the work is not nearly done. There’s more to do if we truly want to see pet ownership flourish in the sector through mutual trust and respect.
“Making unauthorised pet ownership unlawful would build crucial accountability into the rental system,” says APIA General Manager Sarina Gibbon. “New pet rules should complement, not compromise, fundamental property rights. This isn’t about preventing pets in rentals – it’s about ensuring tenants respect property owners’ decisions about their own properties.”
A Sector Ready for Pet-Friendly Rentals
Our recent survey of more than 3,200 landlords shows the sector is already embracing change, with 64.8% of respondents allowing pets in some or all of their properties. This demonstrates that when proper frameworks exist, landlords are willing to welcome pet ownership.
The Next Step: Building Better Compliance
While the proposed unlawful act provision is a good start, we need stronger measures to ensure the system works as intended. APIA is advocating for making it an unlawful act when tenants breach reasonable pet conditions. This isn’t about being punitive – it’s about creating a framework where both parties can trust each other.
For example, if a landlord consents to a tenant keeping a cat with reasonable conditions like regular flea treatment, there should be consequences if these conditions are breached. The current recommendations don’t include specific penalty provisions for such breaches, which could render the setting of reasonable conditions entirely meaningless.
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